IND vs AUS: Sunil Gavaskar criticises Virat Kohli and Indian batters for 'technical deficiencies', urges to play Ranji

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IND vs AUS: Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has openly criticised Virat Kohli and the Indian batting lineup for their technical shortcomings, which he believes cost the team dearly in the ongoing Test season.

Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar emphasised the urgent need for players to participate in domestic cricket to rectify their flaws ahead of the next ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

India's batting woes came to the fore during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where stalwarts like Kohli and Rohit Sharma failed to deliver. Virat Kohli managed just 190 runs in nine innings, averaging 23.75, while Rohit scored a dismal 164 runs across 15 innings at an average of 10.93. Kohli's persistent struggle with deliveries outside off-stump, particularly against Scott Boland, who dismissed him four times-further highlighted these issues.

Gavaskar remarked, "What I observed were glaring technical deficiencies. These errors weren't new; similar mistakes were evident during the New Zealand series at home. If players continue to repeat them, it reflects a lack of effort to address these flaws."

He also questioned the commitment of Indian players to domestic cricket. "The next Ranji Trophy round begins on January 23. Let's see how many squad members participate. There should be no excuses for skipping it. Commitment to domestic cricket is essential for Indian cricket's success. If players choose to avoid it, tough decisions need to be made," Gavaskar said, hinting at the need for stricter selection policies.

The lack of centuries from the batting lineup also drew Gavaskar's ire. Apart from centuries by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy, no other Indian batter crossed the three-figure mark in recent Tests. "Test cricket demands application and determination, both of which were missing. Even half-centuries were rare, reflecting poor batting temperament," he added.

India's lacklustre performances continued in the Sydney Test, where they managed just 185 and 157 in two innings. Despite a spirited bowling effort led by Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, Australia secured a six-wicket victory, with Scott Boland earning the Player of the Match award for his ten-wicket haul.

Gavaskar's comments serve as a wake-up call for the Indian team, urging them to address technical flaws and prioritize domestic cricket to regain their competitive edge.